Method of repairing a yarn break



May 15, 1962 J. H. W. RHEIN, JR

METHOD OF REPAIRING A YARN BREAK Filed April 13, 1960 INVENTOR JOHN HANCOCK WILLING RHEIN, JR

FIG.5

I6 BY ilnite tates Patent 3,034,736 METHOD OF REPAIRING A YARN BREAK John Hancock Willing Rhein, Jr., Seaford, Del., assignor to E. L du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 13, 1%0, Ser. No. 21,960 2 Claims. (Cl. 242-18) This invention relates to the process for winding yarn packages and is related more specifically to an improved arrangement for accomplishing repairs of breaks in incoming yarn to windup devices in which the incoming winding yarn is travelling continuously from a prior operation.

When a yarn break occurred in the winding or rewinding of a yarn package by certain prior methods, it was necessary to stop the yarn supply source as well as the winding machine, tie the yarn ends together and then resume operations. In other winding methods or operations, where the supply yarn was continuous and could not be stopped, it was necessary that the package being wound be doifed and a new one started, resulting in the loss of material or the added expense of rewinding an incompleted package in a separate operation.

It is also known to use an automatic cut-off device which.

is activated when a yarn break occurs and cuts the continuously supplied yarn which is then collected by a yarn take-up device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method whereby the repair of breaks in yarn supplied to windup devices can be accomplished simply and economically in an improved manner, requiring a minimum change in existing equipment and overcoming the above-discussed difficulties in previous winding systems.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple process which will make it possible to tie in the ends of an incomplete package after a break has occurred in a yarn line supplied from a continuous source.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a break repair process which eliminates the necessity of rewinding an incomplete yarn package wound from a continuous yarn supply source in case of a yarn break.

These objects are accomplished by a novel method for repairing a break in a yarn supplied from a continuous yarn source involving the use of a Winding head of the type used with coners or tube winders, in combination with a detachable yarn winding element adapted to be releasably engaged in the end of a yarn support core holder and a special yarn guiding structure.

Other objects and advantages will appear and the invention Will be disclosed more fully in the specification and claims which follow, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of a tube Windup arrangement embodying this invention with certain parts broken away to show more clearly the relationship of the main components and employing a preferred embodiment of the novel break repair guide.

FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view of a break repair guide and its mounting when yarn is to be wound onto cone-shaped packages on a cone winder.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of a different embodiment of a break repair guide.

FIGURE 4- is a front view of yet another embodiment of a break repair guide.

FIGURE 5 is a front view of still another embodiment of a break repair guide.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a partially completed yarn package I wound on a windup roll or yarn support core 2 slidably attached to the spindle 3 of an otherwise conventional winding machine (not shown) wwjllfi Patented May 15, 1962 such as a tube winder having a reciprocating guide 4 tray ersing the yarn line 5' and a pressure roll 6 aiding in the formation of the yarn package I, said roll having a cutaway section 7 for guiding the supply yarn 5 at the start of the winding operation after a break has occurred and for clearing a path for the hook 12 of the break repair guide 9. Roll 6 could also represent a drive roll in surface contact with the package 1. The break repair guide 9 is secured in spindle 3 adjacent to the package 1 and held in the spindle by suitable means such as screw threads or detent means (not shown). A spacer l0 fixedly attached on spindle 3 assures the correct positioning of the yarn support core 2 in relation to the guide 9.

FIGURE 2 shows the yarn break repair guide 9 inserted through the end of a cone 15 into the bore of the winding 'head spindle (not shown) with suitable fasten ing means, such as screw threads 13 (FIGURE 4) or 0 rings 16 (FIGURE 5).

Also shown in FIGURE 1 is movable tool 18 of a conventional type which is used, under some conditions of start-up, to keep the moving yarn 5 in the path 5" shown, i.e., out of engagement with the guide 9. In addi tion, the construction of tool 18 is such that it can be used to cut the yarn 5 at the desired time.

FIGURE 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the yarn break repair guide 9 with threads 11 at the base end and a single hook 12 at the opposite end to be used in combination with a tube.

FIGURE 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the yarn break repair guide 9 with threads 13 at the base and a double hook 14 at the opposite end to be used in combination with a cone.

FIGURE 5 shows yet another method of mounting a guide hook which consists of 0 rings 16 in combination with a double hook 14.

A superior advantage of this invention is in enabling an operator to resume operation quickly after a yarn break has occurred in yarn supplied from a continuous source, without stopping to repair the break itself. The improved method of operation Will be discussed by referring to FIGURE 1, where in normal operation the line 5' -represents yarn coming from a continuous feed (not shown), this yarn passes through a reciprocating traverse guide 4 and is wound to form a package I. When a yarn break occurs, an automatic cut-off and signaling device, any of those well known in the art, will cut the continuously supplied yarn and direct the yarn to a yarn take-up device (not shown), stop the winding head, and signal the opera tor.

The operator then winds the loose yarn end attached to the package 5" around the partial package 1 and then several times around the yarn support core 2 to form a break repair bunch 8. The break repair guide 9 is then inserted as shown. The operator transfers the continuously moving yarn 5 from the automaitc take-up de vice (not shown) to another take-up device 17 which is located on the same side of the bobbin as the guide 4. The yarn line is subsequently led behind the break repair guide 9 and passed through the cut-away section 7 of the pressure roll or drive roll 6 which acts as a guide 7 to lead yarn line into the path of guide 9 when desired and to prevent premature pick-up of the yarn line 5 in the traversing guide 4.

The machine is then started and the guide 9 catches the yarn 5 which is cut, either automatically or by hand, at the yarn take-up device 17 as soon as a wrap has formed on the core 2. Almost simultaneously the yarn line is lifted manually from the depression 7 of the pressure roll 6, and taken up by the reciprocating traversing guide 4 so that the winding operation is resumed until the package 1 is completed or another break occurs.

After completing the package 1, removing or doffing it from the machine and starting a new package without delay, the loose ends from the bunch 8 on the completed package and the wrap on core 2 are spliced and the package 1 is ready for further processing. If additional breaks occur before the package 1 is complete, the loose ends are similarly spliced and the break repair guide 9 used again. For best results, a break repair guide of appropriate length should be used in order to conform to the changes in diameter as the package builds up.

When the windup does not come up to speed fast enough to avoid forming slack ends and enrollments, tool 18 is used. Just before the machine is started, the yarn 5 is deflected into the path, represented by the dashed line 5", by the tool 18 such that the guide 9 is prevented from catching the yarn 5. When the windup has accelerated and is rotating at the desired speed, the tool 18 is moved so that the guide 9 engages the yarn 5. Simultaneously the yarn 5 is cut either by the tool 18 or at the yarn take-up device 17.

An additional arrangement has been used successfully in which a similar apparatus to that shown in FIGURE 1 is used, except that the guide groove 7 in roll 6 is eliminated. When a break occurs in this arrangement, the procedure is the same as that employed with the structure of FIGURE 1 and discussed in the previous paragraphs insofar as the loose yarn end attached to the package and insertion of the break repair guide is concerned.

The operator then transfers the continuously moving yarn 5 from the automatic take-up device (not shown) to another take-up device 17 which is located on the same side of the bobbin as the guide 4. This yarn line 5 is led behind the break repair guide 9 and passed through the reciprocating guide 4. The machine is then started and the guide 9 catches the yarn line which is cut either automatically or by hand at the yarn take-up device 17 so that wraps may be formed at the end of core 2.

Simultaneously, the incoming yarn through the guide 4 is wound on the package with regular traversing movement to resume building of the package until it is completed or another break occurs. Again, if the windup does not come up to speed fast enough to avoid slack ends and enrollments, tool 18 is used. Just before the machine is started the yarn is deflected into a path through guide 18 and through guide 4 so that the guide 9 is prevented from catching the yarn and from being wound on the package. When the windup has accelerated and is rotating at the desired speed, the tool 18 is moved so that the guide 9 engages the yarn. Simultaneously the yarn is cut so that the end is wrapped around the core 2 while the incoming yarn is being wound on the package by guide 4 in regular traversing movement to complete the package.

FIGURE 2 shows another method of mounting the guide 9. While a cone-shaped package is shown, it is readily apparent that either method of mounting can be used for both cones or tubes. In the embodiment shown, the end of the winding head spindle (not shown) is drilled and tapped to receive the screw threads 13 of the guide 9' shown in FIGURE 4, or the 9 rings 16 shown in FIGURE 5. The method of stringing up after a break is similar to the above-described process.

The present invention offers many advantages over the prior art. It has been found that the use of a portable yarn take-up device has greatly simplified the string-up process following a break in processes where tubes are used as well as cones and that substantial savings are realized in yarn handling time and material by using the method according to this invention.

The instant invention offers an improved, simple, economical and highly efficient method for accomplishing the repairs of breaks in yarn supplied from a continuous operation.

It will be apparent that many widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. The improved method of repairing a yarn break during a yarn windup operation comprising stopping rotation of a windup roll and a yarn package upon yarn breakage, directing the broken yarn end of the package to one end of the windup roll, winding the package broken end around the end of the windup roll, starting rotation of the windup roll and package, directing the new incoming yarn end to said end of the windup roll, winding the incoming yarn end around the said end of the windup roll for a limited number of turns, and commencing regular traversing package winding with said incoming yarn until the package is completed, stopping rotation of the windup roll and package, removing the windup roll and package, and effecting repairs to the yarn break by joining the package broken end to the said new end at the said one end of said windup roll.

2. An improved method of repairing a broken yarn during operation of a continuously supplied yarn windup system comprising a rotary spindle, a windup roll mounted thereon and having an end portion and a body portion for carrying the wound yarn, a second roll engaged with said windup roll and a yarn traversing guide means mounted in operative association with said windup roll, said method comprising the steps of stopping rotation of the windup roll and yarn package upon occurrence of a break in the yarn, directing the broken yarn end connected to the package to said end portion of the windup roll, winding the package broken end around the said end portion of the windup roll, starting rotation of said windup roll and package, directing the new incoming yarn end to said end portion of said windup roll, winding said incoming yarn end around the end portion of the windup roll for a number of turns and commencing regular traversing winding of the package with said incoming yarn end until the package is completed, stopping rotation of the windup roll and completed package, removing the windup roll and package from the spindle, positioning a new roll on said spindle, commencing yarn windup thereon, repairing the yarn break in said complete package by joining the said package broken end to said new end at said end portion of the windup roll while a new yarn package is being wound on said new roll.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,193,117 Snider Mar. 12, 1940 2,300,073 Statford Oct. 27, 1942 2,461,593 Decker Feb. 15, 1949 2,481,031 McDermott Sept. 6, 1949 2,630,976 Keight Mar. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 1 s rw m Q t 9w 

